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Welcome to the new B.I.R.D. Forum. Please be sure to read the "New Member / New Registered ? Please Read" thread in the Coffee Shop. This contains some important information. To become a full member ( £5.90 a year ) simply click on your user name near the top on the right I hope you enjoy the new site ................ Jaws ( John )
do you have any comments???
- Thread starter Jon and Anya
- Start date
Jon and Anya
Registered User
having read all the replies to the thread I have only one thing to say to Mr Optic lumpit MP,
VOTE WOLFIE :bow: :yo: :bow:
VOTE WOLFIE :bow: :yo: :bow:
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S
Scalesy
Guest
Jon and Anya said:
Z
Zoffo
Guest
Actually I've been on IXXRA but never this site before. Now I'm on both. Interesting comparing how two identical 'seeds' have evolved onto different things?lumpy said:
Your point about spares and insurance etc...
Spares are made in relatively small quantities true. But there's still a massive amount of over pricing. If there was as many bikes as cars on the road the lobby against these unfair practices would be very powerful and soon become a political football. Manufacturers would be forced to offer fair prices the same way the car industry has been over the last few years (in the UK at least)
We are told that insurance premiums are high because of the number of stolen machines and accidents.
The majority of stolen machines are scooters and 125's (MCN, probably the same article you read ) and accidents rates are actually falling the 40+ age group, who have traditionally been blamed for the high rates. But in the end it's all about supply and demand. Like any other business, the higher the ratio of customers to suppliers the more competition and hence lower prices.
Born again bikers? Everyone is an arse when they first start riding, whether at 17 or 70. If they are lucky enough to survive they become responsible riders. Biking has its own version of natural selection. Terminally dumb ass new bikers never grow up to be dumb ass experienced bikers.
Speaking as someone who has been around and in the bike trade errrr.... a while ( :blush: ) I can give very specific reasons for stupidly high insurance costs.
1) WE are greedy and always try to get everything we can outa a bad situation. ( such as an off )
For instance, instead of having a scratch polished out of a swing arm people insist on having it replaced.
2) The Insurance companys are greedy... But no greedier than any other commercial enterprise. they will charge as much as they think the market can stand.
3) the insurance companys employ people to assess the damage to bikes/cars who are, quite frankly weak willed and easily led.
Time and again I have watched while one has caved in, writing a bike off for a very small amount of repairable damage, purely because the dealer knows he will sell the customer a new bike.
Numbers one and two might seem great when you are the one receiving the big pay out, the new bike whatever.. but then come renewal time will you be quite so happy ?
The cost of insurance did not go from reasonable to feckin hell over night.
It was driven up by folk making big claims..
How many times have you seen it.. oh bugger, bike fell over in the drive.. broke the plastics.. new plastics 1500 quid.. insurance company wrote me bike off..
In reality the bike COULD have probably been repaired for a fraction of the cost.. but the average customer looks at the short term picture and sees a shiny new bike.. not the long term and a world where only the mega rich or fookin old fart can afford to insure anything other than a 250 wet dream !
Waffle over.. soap box tucked away
1) WE are greedy and always try to get everything we can outa a bad situation. ( such as an off )
For instance, instead of having a scratch polished out of a swing arm people insist on having it replaced.
2) The Insurance companys are greedy... But no greedier than any other commercial enterprise. they will charge as much as they think the market can stand.
3) the insurance companys employ people to assess the damage to bikes/cars who are, quite frankly weak willed and easily led.
Time and again I have watched while one has caved in, writing a bike off for a very small amount of repairable damage, purely because the dealer knows he will sell the customer a new bike.
Numbers one and two might seem great when you are the one receiving the big pay out, the new bike whatever.. but then come renewal time will you be quite so happy ?
The cost of insurance did not go from reasonable to feckin hell over night.
It was driven up by folk making big claims..
How many times have you seen it.. oh bugger, bike fell over in the drive.. broke the plastics.. new plastics 1500 quid.. insurance company wrote me bike off..
In reality the bike COULD have probably been repaired for a fraction of the cost.. but the average customer looks at the short term picture and sees a shiny new bike.. not the long term and a world where only the mega rich or fookin old fart can afford to insure anything other than a 250 wet dream !
Waffle over.. soap box tucked away